Blue Jays tag Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel with loss on birthday

Published 7:26 pm, Saturday, May 28, 2016

Josh Donaldson, second from right, and Russell Martin, left, rush Devon Travis after Travis drove in the game-winning run. In the foreground is Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

Josh Donaldson, second from right, and Russell Martin, left, rush Devon Travis after Travis drove in the game-winning run. In the foreground is Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

Photo: Nathan Denette — The Canadian Press Via AP

Blue Jays tag Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel with loss on birthday

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TORONTO >> On his 28th birthday, usually reliable Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel was perfectly positioned to kick off the celebrations with his first win of the season on Saturday.

David Ortiz had wrestled back the lead with a ninth-inning home run, and with two out in the bottom of the inning, Kimbrel had worked Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak to an 0-2 count.

But Smoak misread the script, driving a single up the middle. After Smoak was replaced by pinch-runner Ezequiel Carrera, catcher Russell Martin drove home the tying run on a 2-2 count. Devon Travis drove in Martin on another 0-2 count as the Blue Jays walked off with a 10-9 win.

Whatever he had planned for Saturday night, his birthday celebrations hadn’t exactly got off to the most auspicious of starts.

“(Big) Papi going out there and hitting the home run that was huge for us,” Kimbrel (0-2) said. “It was very disappointing that I wasn’t able to close the door after that.”

The winning hit from Travis got mixed reaction in the Red Sox locker room. Third baseman Travis Shaw had to dive to corral the drive, but his throw to first was dropped by Hanley Ramirez, allowing Martin’s game-winning run to stand.

“It’s a tough play, it’s a tough play for any first baseman, I don’t care how many games you’ve played over at first base,” said Dustin Pedroia. “I’ve seen that done by Gold Glovers and everybody. That’s not the reason why we lost the game.”

However, manager John Farrell felt his first baseman would have liked to have a do-over.

“Travis gives him a throw and we’ve seen Hanley catch that ball a number of times,” Farrell said. “If we give him a chance to replay that, he probably makes that play routinely. Unfortunate situation in a key moment.”

Up 8-4 when starter Rick Porcello left the game after 6 2/3 innings, the Red Sox had looked in good position to grab a series-leveling victory. But those hopes started to unravel in the eighth, as Martin, Travis and Jose Bautista drove in runs off the bullpen, combined with another on a wild pitch from Junichi Tazawa, and the game was tied.

Ortiz’s 13th home run of the season, and league-leading 46th RBI, off Toronto reliever Gavin Floyd (2-3), gave the Red Sox another chance, but with the bullpen giving up a season-high six earned runs, it just wasn’t their day.

“With the potency in our lineup, I feel like no lead is really big enough,” Martin said.

Porcello gave up four runs on seven hits while striking out five over 6 2/3 innings.

Marcus Stroman tied his shortest outing of the season, also against Boston, surrendering seven runs on 11 hits while striking out five. He was chased in the fifth inning with one out.

Just looking

A day after being passed over as one of the last selections for Team Canada’s World Cup of Hockey squad, Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban took batting practice with the Blue Jays before Saturday’s game. Wearing a No. 76 “Subbanator” shirt corresponding with his uniform number in the NHL, the former Norris Trophy winner took batting tips from slugger Jose Bautista.

In the line of fire

Home plate umpire Mike DiMuro left the game with two out in the bottom of the second inning. He was hit flush in the facemask on a foul tip off the bat of Blue Jays 2B Devon Travis.